We are a month into summer reading. As I look back over the summer, I realize my reading life lesson this year is to "just let them read." I started by making many suggestions. I was worried that my children were picking books that might be too hard or too easy. I was making it so much more stressful than it needed to be.
When I just stepped back and watched, they were fine. Yes, they read a few books that were easy. The funny thing one of my children said afterwards was how that book used to be hard to read and now it is easy....so rereading it built confidence. They attempted books that were too hard and realized it and decided to read them later. They attempted other books that I thought might be too hard, and they persevered. While they asked what a few words meant, they could do it. If I spoke up and said I thought that book was too hard, they might not have even tried.
While I might want to create what I think is the perfect combination of summer reading books for them, I realize when I step back and let them make those decisions, they are putting together their own incredible combination of summer reading books. Watching my children run out the back door, each with a book under her arm to go read under her favorite tree is far more wonderful than the lists of books I was mentally creating for them to read this summer. They will have enough time during the school year discussing whether books are just the right level and reading what they need to read. Summer is their time to wander the stacks of the library and pick a book because their friend recommended it, or the amazing librarians told them about it, or the cover is pretty, or they just want to revisit an old friend in a book they have already ready several times.
Seeing my children love reading and choosing whatever books they want to read reminds me that it isn't about me. Just let them read. Let them choose the books. Let them find the characters that speak to them. Let them choose their summer literary adventures. Sometimes the book might be too easy or too hard, but that's ok. That's part of being a reader.
D